M2002

Main battle tank

The M2002 looses to
most contemporary MBTs in terms of protection, firepower and
mobility

Entered service

late 1990s

Crew

4 men

Dimensions and weight

Weight

44 t

Length (gun forward)

?

Hull length

?

Width

3.5 m

Height

2.4 m

Armament

Main gun

115-mm smoothbore

Machine guns

1 x 14.5-mm, 1 x 7.62-mm

Elevation range

?

Traverse range

360 degrees

Ammunition load

Main gun

~ 40 rounds

Machine guns

300 x 14.5, 1 500 x 7.62

Mobility

Engine

diesel

Engine power

~ 750 hp

Maximum road speed

50 ~ 60 km/h

Range

400 ~ 500 km

Maneuverability

Gradient

60%

Side slope

40%

Vertical step

~ 0.9 m

Trench

~ 2.8 m

Fording

1.2 m

Fording (with preparation)

5 m

The P'okpong
(storm) is the latest North Korean main battle tank. It is
also popularly known as the M2002. Previously it was speculated that
the new North Korean main battle tank is a derivative of the Soviet
T-72. However it seems that the M2002
is a further development of the older
T-62, which was
license-produced in North Korea. The M2002 was developed in the late
1990s to replace the previous Ch'onma (Flying Horse) series
of medium tanks, based on the Soviet T-62. It was first observed
during performance trials in 2002, hence the designation. Actual
production numbers of the new MBT are unknown, however it is
believed that only few of these new tanks are operational. It is
unlikely, that this new tank will be produced in large numbers,
considering the current economical situation of North Korea.

It is clear,
that considerable modification were made to original design of the
T-62. It uses a stretched hull with one road wheel added on each
side. It is believed that some of its components and subsystems are
imported from China, Russia and possible Belarus.

Vehicle has
a welded hull and turret. Turret has a large wedge-shaped armor
module, bolted onto the front for improved protection. A large
turret bustle is built at the rear, which possibly contains crew
gear or additional ammunition. This MBT possibly might be fitted
with explosive reactive armor kit. The tank is also fitted with
countermeasures system, which reduces chance of being hit by enemy
anti-tank guided weapons. However in terms of protection the M2002 looses to most current MBTs.

The M2002 is
possibly armed with a 115-mm smoothbore gun, similar to that of the
T-62. It is capable of firing a wide range of ammunition, including
HE, HEAT, HE-FRAG and APFSDS rounds. Despite that it is inferior to
modern 120-mm and 125-mm tank guns. This tank might carry over 40
rounds of ammunition. It is believed that this gun is loaded
manually.

Secondary
armament consists of coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun and another
manually-operated 14.5-mm heavy machine gun, mounted on top of the
roof. It is used to engage ground and low-flying air targets.

Some sources
report, that this tank can be fitted with Bulsae-3 ATGM launcher.
The launcher is mounted over the main gun. It has a claimed
effective range of 5.5 km and is comparable with the Russian Kornet
ATGW (NATO designation AT-14 Spriggan). Also this tank can be
equipped with two man portable short-range air defense missiles.
Missiles are possible cloned from the Russian Igla and are mounted
on top of the roof.

The P'okpong uses a relatively modern
digital fire
control system. However its night vision equipment is out-dated.

It is
believed that this tank has a crew of 4, including commander,
gunner, loader and driver.

North Korean
sources claim that this tank is
powered by a diesel engine, developing 1 200 hp. However it is
possible that its actual power output is only about 750 hp. Its
claimed maximum road speed is 70 km/h. The
road wheels and drive sprockets appears to be T-62 components.
Vehicle can be fitted with additional fuel tanks for expended range.
This tank carries a deep wading kit and can ford water obstacles up
to 5 m deep.

The M2002
losses to most contemporary main battle tanks in all critical
aspects, such as protection, firepower and mobility. It could not
match even older Russian, Chinese or South Korean main battle tanks.
Currently it is unknown if any specialized variant of this MBT, such
as armored recovery vehicle, bridgelayer or engineering vehicle have
been produced.